3 days Rwanda gorillas and Bisoke hike tour will be done at the Volcanoes National Park located northwestern part of Rwanda, as one of the country’s most famous and ecologically diverse protected areas and part of the Virunga volcanoes. Mountain gorillas and Golden monkeys are part of this park and are endangered while hiking Bisoke gives you a chance to view Rwenzori ranges, crater lakes and Mgahinga national park. Volcanoes National Park is part of the larger Virunga Conservation Area, which spans across Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It’s a destination that offers both adventure and a deep connection with nature and wildlife. Expect to see forest elephants, bush pigs, forest buffaloes, black-fronted duiker, bushbucks, spotted hyenas on top of the mountain gorillas and golden monkeys; and birds like francolin, weird weavers, Rwenzori turaco, dusky crimsonwing, woodland warblers, collared sunbirds, collared apalis and many more. The trip will start from Kigali to Volcanoes national park and back to Kigali.
Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
You will be picked at an agreed point at 8:00am in Kigali by our driver guide from Glory Summit tours, who will also brief you on how the trip will go, and then you will start with a city tour of Kigali by visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial, an important and sobering site that commemorates the victims of the 1994 genocide. With many of the guides as survivors, the memorial provides a historical overview of the events and serves as a place for reflection with a personal touch from the guide and this will take about 2hours. You will have an early lunch, then set off for the Volcanoes national park which will take about 2-3hours as you enjoy the beautiful green scenery the countryside of Rwanda has to offer and arrive in the evening. You will check into your lodging and have diner then rest for the night.
Day 2: Bisoke Hiking
After an early breakfast, lunch will be packed and you will head to Kinigi guest information center for briefing about what to expect from the guide and also ensure you have the right gear needed for the hike. You will begin the hike at 8:00am and this will take about 6-8hours, and you will hike through the bamboo forests, alpine and lobelia bushes. Expect to see lions, elephants, buffaloes, forest hogs, golden monkeys, woodland warblers, dusky crimsonwing, trogons, Rwenzori turacos, crested barbets, Rwenzori bati and many more. You will have one stopover for lunch, after which you will continue to the peak and you will enjoy the panoramic views from the summit, crater lakes, Rwenzori Mountains and also have picture taking moments. You will then descend back to the bottom, and head back to your lodging, refresh and have dinner. After dinner you will rest for the night.
Day 3: Gorilla trekking and departure
You will have an early breakfast, head to the park offices for briefing from the guide about the regulations and how to behave around the gorillas. With a guide and armed guard, your trek will start at 7:30am and will take between 30mins-6hours depending on the location of the gorilla family you are tracking. Once the gorilla family is found you will be given an hour with them get to see the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, how they live, care for each other, care for their young, how and when they eat, during the trek you will be given water when you need it. Expect to see animals like golden monkeys, Angola colobus, blue monkeys, elephants, buffaloes, duikers, bush bucks, forest hogs and birds like francolins, strange weavers, Rwenzori turacos, Rwenzori sunbirds, collared apalis, and woodland warblers away from the mountain gorillas. When the trek is done you will head back to your lodge, freshen up, checkout of your lodge, and have lunch as you plan for your exit from the national park. You will set off for Kigali which will take about 2-3hours, during this time you will enjoy the beautiful green scenery, rolling hills, locals for picture moments and once you get to the agreed spot in the evening and this will mark the end of your 3 day trip.
